Chapter eleven: Another Prophecy
Sandstrike dragged herself over to the flame-colored body laying in the middle of the clearing. Her eyelids hung low throughout the night, not really interested in the small bursts of conversation about Fireheart's too-short life. Sandstrike made sure to hide her boredom by a mask of grief, and it was good enough to save her from speaking most of the night. It seemed like days had passed before the sky turned gray.
"He was a promising young warrior," Bluestar was saying. "He would have gone far in Thunderclan, maybe he would have one day led us." The blue she-cat gave Sandstrike a questioning look.
I guess I have to say something, Sandstrike inwardly grumbled. She got to her paws and cleared her throat.
"Fireheart and I didn't see eye to eye for a long time. I saw a kittypet, he saw a rival. We always butted heads since his first step in this camp. He did have promise, he beat me in our first fight. I forced him to respect me in another quarrel, and I guess he began to fall for me. I noticed all too late," Sandstrike bowed her head and sat down again. The cats who'd stayed up went to their nests while Lionheart assigned the rested cats to patrols. As the elders carried Fireheart's body out of camp, she heard Bluestar mutter under her breath.
"Oh Starclan, what are we going to do now?" She was saying to herself. "The fire meant to save our clan has gone out."
Fire? Saving our clan? Sandstrike puzzled over the leader's words. Was Fireheart… part of a prophecy? Sandstrike felt sick to her stomach. Have I doomed us all? The ginger warrior shuffled back to her nest, yawning. She was tired enough to sleep dreamlessly.
Sandstrike was woken by small paws nudging her shoulder. Sandstrike opened her pale green eyes to see her younger brother.
"Lynxpaw," Sandstrike greeted him. "What do you need? Does Lionheart need me for a patrol?"
"No…" Lynxpaw looked around warily. "I need to tell you something."
Sandstrike detected his hesitancy and got to her paws, guiding him towards the gorse tunnel. She observed that it was midday, and all the patrols had returned, with the freshkill pile being full. The only cats missing from camp were some mentors and apprentices. Tigerclaw was sharing a squirrel with Darkstripe.
"Tigerclaw, is it okay if I take Lynxpaw hunting?" Sandstrike called. She didn't want to get her little brother in trouble with his mentor.
"He performed well enough today, I suppose," Tigerclaw replied. "Go ahead, Lynxpaw." The two young cats bounded out of camp and climbed out of the ravine. Sandstrike led the way to a clearing near Sunningrocks. She descended into the small hollow and made herself comfortable, sitting across from Lynxpaw.
"What is it you wanted to tell me?" The pale ginger she-cat asked.
"I… had a dream last night," Lynxpaw confessed. "It wasn't a normal dream, I swear! There were sparkly cats, and I was at fourtrees."
"How many cats? Did you recognize any of them? What did they tell you?" Sandstrike questioned.
"There were three of them. I didn't recognize two of them. One… was Fireheart," Lynxpaw admitted. "The other two were similar tortoiseshells. The tom looked exactly like Redpaw. He said he was my father, and the other was Spottedleaf."
"What did they tell you?" Sandstrike repeated, trying to calm her racing heart. What if Fireheart gave him the truth? Would Lynxpaw turn her in?
"Spottedleaf said the Fire had been extinguished, but Redtail said that a new Fire must be ignited," Lynxpaw explained. "Fireheart… he said I was the new fire. Spottedleaf told me about the prophecy Starclan had sent her moons ago, and how Fireheart was the prophecy cat. They said that his fate was changed, and he couldn't fulfill his destiny." Lynxpaw looked up at his sister, despair and fear in his amber eyes. "Sandstrike, I don't know if I can do this! I'm just an apprentice!"
"Lynxpaw," Sandstrike said softly, crouching down to stare directly into his eyes. "You are the son of Redtail and Goldenflower, the son of a deputy and a great warrior. It may seem like a lot, but I have faith you can do this, and Starclan does too. If they didn't think you couldn't do it, why would they pick you? I'm glad you told me, because for now, I think it's best if you don't do this alone."
"Th-thanks, Sandstrike," Lynxpaw blinked, smiling a little. Sandstrike groomed his ears comfortingly until a small purr sounded from his throat.
"Sandstrike?" Lynxpaw asked after a moment.
"Yes?"
"Should I tell Yellowfang and Bluestar about the prophecy?"
"Well," Sandstrike thought. "If they don't already know, Yellowfang will find out at the next halfmoon meeting, but Starclan may not tell them who the Fire is. It's up to you, I can only give you my advice."
Lynxpaw was silent for a moment.
"There's one more thing…" Sandstrike could feel her brother's heart racing beneath his pelt. "They said there's a darkness in Thunderclan. Starclan told me that evil hunts the Clan like a Tiger, and could destroy Thunderclan if the Tiger isn't stopped."
Sandstrike's heart plummeted.
Tigerclaw. The Dark Forest. Oh Starclan, what have I done?
"Sandstrike?" Lynxpaw nudged his sister when she didn't respond.
"You can let me worry about stopping this 'Tiger,' and driving out the darkness," Sandstrike assured him.
"And then what do I do?" Lynxpaw asked, his amber eyes wide with a kit-like curiosity.
"You let me know if Starclan sends any more dreams. Plus, you're my little helper, you help me drive out the Tiger and his darkness," Sandstrike grinned at him. Lynxpaw frowned.
"Sister, Fireheart was the 'fire,' and he had a name to match. We also have a Tigerclaw in our clan… is my mentor the darkness?"
"Oh little one," Sandstrike drew her brother close. "You have nothing to fear. Tigerclaw is a mangy, lazy coward who would never get his own paws dirty. I'll keep an eye on him, and keep his paws in line. I promise, I'll always keep you safe." Lynxpaw nodded, and pulled away.
"Can we hunt now?" The tabby and black tom asked. Sandstrike nodded and raced her brother into the forest. What she didn't see was, among the gray shadows and flame-colored leaves, were a pair of yellow eyes, watching.
"Sandstrike?" The pale ginger she-cat turned around to see Longtail approaching her and her brother, their mouths full of prey from a successful hunting trip.
Sandstrike quickly deposited her prey on the pile and faced the pale tabby. "Yeah, Longtail?"
"Lionheart wants us to patrol the Riverclan border at dusk, if you're not too tired," The light brown tom said, shuffling his paws.
"Alright. I should be good to go by then," Sandstrike said, arching her back in a stretch. Longtail nodded, and after an awkward silence, trailed across the clearing to join his former mentor and Tigerclaw, who gave Sandstrike an icy stare.
"Do you want to tell Yellowfang and Bluestar?" Sandstrike whispered to Lynxpaw.
"Should Mother know? And Redpaw and Littlepaw?" Lynxpaw asked.
"I think the prophecy should reach as few ears as possible for now," Sandstrike cautioned. "We could tell Mother eventually, but Redpaw and Littlepaw would likely tell everyone. I can ask Bluestar for an audience in her den shortly, you can go grab a bite to eat first." Lynxpaw nodded and grabbed a shrew, his favorite prey, before joining his littermates beside the tree stump.
Sandstrike paused beside the nettle patch to swiftly clear her fur of leaves and twigs before going to the den beneath the Highrock.
"Bluestar?" Sandstrike called softly into the shadows of the sandy cave.
"Sandstrike? What do you want?" Bluestar growled. The thinly veiled hostility in her voice rubbed Sandstrike's fur the wrong way, but she ignored it and brushed past the lichen.
"Bluestar, Lynxpaw has something to share with you and Yellowfang," Sandstrike explained.
"Oh?" Bluestar turned her head to look at Sandstrike, her blue eyes, usually sharp with wit, were dull with exhaustion. "What could an apprentice have to share with a leader and her medicine cat?"
"News from Starclan," Sandstrike said softly but confidently.
"An apprentice? Received news from Starclan?" Bluestar let out a harsh, rusty laugh. She frowned when Sandstrike maintained a serious demeanor. "Alright," She sighed. "Go get Yellowfang and Lynxpaw."
Sandstrike nodded, grateful she didn't summon the deputy as well. She couldn't be sure that Lionheart wouldn't tell Tigerclaw.
"What is it?" Yellowfang snapped as she rummaged around her den. She backed out and saw Sandstrike, and her face softened. "How're you doing?"
"Fine, I guess," Sandstrike mumbled, lowering her gaze.
"It's brave of you to hide your feelings for the good of the Clan," Yellowfang said softly. "Just don't bottle them. I know losing Fireheart and being betrayed by your mentor must have been hard."
"It-it was," Sandstrike nodded tensely. "But I'm not here for pity. Bluestar needs to see you." Yellowfang acknowledged the request and brushed past Sandstrike gently. Sandstrike took off her mask of grief and went back out into the clearing to find Lynxpaw, who was chatting with Redpaw and Littlepaw.
"Lynxpaw, I think Yellowfang needed you for something, she was going on about needing you to collect moss or whatever," Sandstrike said, giving him a pointed look and a small glance towards Bluestar's den.
Redpaw chuckled. "You have to collect smelly herbs," She teased her littermate.
"And I'll have you clean the elders' smelly bedding," Sandstrike said sharply. "And make sure they don't need herbs for sore paws after the burial. Just because I haven't trained you today doesn't mean you can slack off your own chores."
"Yes, Sandstrike," Redpaw sighed. Once she had disappeared beneath the branches of the fallen tree, Sandstrike nodded to Littlepaw and went to Bluestar's den where the leader, Yellowfang, and Lynxpaw waited.
"Now that we're all here, would you like to explain?" Bluestar asked Lynxpaw curtly. The tom ducked his head and glanced shyly at his paws. Sandstrike nudged his shoulder encouragingly and he spoke up.
"Last night, shortly before Moonhigh, I left the vigil and went to my nest. When I went to sleep, I woke up at Fourtrees, and there were three starry cats," Lynxpaw began. "I recognized Fireheart, and the other two introduced themselves as Spottedleaf and Redtail." He proceeded to repeat what he'd told Sandstrike.
Yellowfang spoke when he'd finished. "Bluestar, I received a prophecy, not long before the battle at Sunningrocks."
"Do tell," Bluestar ordered.
"'In the shadows lurks danger, like a Tiger waiting to strike.
The darkness aims to steal the blue from the sky,
The threat longs to gain the power of the stars,
If the cat manages to get his Claws on Fire,
The storm will fall," Yellowfang recited.
Bluestar's eyes narrowed. "I don't have much experience with prophecies, but I think we can decipher something of this. There is danger in Shadowclan, hinted at by the mention of shadows in the first line. There is an evil cat who wants to kill me, and likely take the power for themselves, supported by the second and third lines. This cat would succeed if they killed Fireheart, who was the Fire from Spottedleaf's prophecy that she received many moons ago, when she was still alive."
"And the storm?" Sandstrike asked.
"Maybe it means Thunderclan," Lynxpaw said darkly. "After all, thunder comes from storms."
"Thunderstar's mother was named Storm, if I remember the tales from my kithood correctly," Bluestar nodded. "So if Starclan was referring to what created Thunderclan, wouldn't it be Starclan? They are the center of the Clans, and they are in danger."
"I doubt Starclan would risk their fate based upon our knowledge of Clan history," Sandstrike snorted.
"Enlighten me, if you think you know better," Bluestar ordered coldly.
"Sorry Bluestar," Sandstrike hurriedly apologized. "But I have never heard of Storm, and I've heard very little of the great Thunderstar."
"Are you calling me old?" Bluestar growled.
"No!" Sandstrike protested. "I'm only saying that the tales of the ancient clans are being told less and less, so I don't know why Starclan would risk their existence on how much we paid attention to the elders' stories as kits. I myself hardly remember any. Starclan loves to be vague, but this would be too important. I think we're misinterpreting something."
"So even if Starclan isn't at risk, my life is in danger, and if a tyrant kills me to take over the Clan, then Thunderclan is also in danger!" Bluestar hissed. "Sandstrike, tell Lionheart to step up patrols on Shadowclan's border, we must stay watchful! I never trusted Nightstar, or any Shadowclan cat! They've always been a shady bunch."
As the name implies, Sandstrike thought wryly.
"Excuse me," Yellowfang sniffed. "I believe you trust me, don't you? I may come from that 'shady bunch,' but I have no secrets to hide from you. No more than any other cat, that is."
"What's that supposed to mean? Everyone has secrets? You can't trust anyone?" Bluestar spat.
"Bluestar, calm down," Yellowfang soothed in a surprisingly motherly way. "Everyone has kept a secret, anything from eating crowfood as a kit, to pranking your denmates, to breaking the warrior code. No one ever trusts anyone immediately, blind trust gets cats hurt, and they learn their lesson. I have my secrets, and you have yours."
"Yet it appears you haven't shared all of yours," Bluestar observed. "How great are your secrets, Yellowfang?"
The mangy grey she-cat glanced at her audience warily. "Similar to yours, in a way. The code was broken, and like you, I covered it up. Now, if you wish for our secrets to remain secret, I suggest we have the youngsters leave."
"Yes, Sandstrike, go find Lionheart and relay the message, then find Longtail and get your tails over to Shadowclan's border!" Bluestar ordered. "Lynxpaw, don't tell anyone. Go see if Tigerclaw needs anything."
"Bluestar, I believe we have one more matter to settle," Sandstrike objected.
"What?" Bluestar sighed.
"Cinderpaw and Brightpaw are in need of a new mentor."
"If I may suggest something," Yellowfang butted in. "After Fireheart's rather lax methods of discipline, why don't we have Tigerclaw train Cinderpaw? She's bright enough to not let him get her down from his harsh rebuttals, but he's tough enough to teach her a thing or two."
"But-" Lynxpaw opened his mouth.
"Of course, Tigerclaw is already a mentor, but I am free to take an apprentice," Yellowfang continued. "I won't live forever; I'm beginning to feel my age. Since Lynxpaw has a connection to Starclan, I think he should take a shot at being a medicine cat."
"Taking on an apprentice isn't something you should take lightly," Bluestar cautioned.
"Lynxpaw can continue training as a warrior, but I want to take him to Highstones at the next halfmoon meeting to see if Starclan agrees with my decision and will accept him. If they don't, then he has met that requirement in his warrior training and we'll figure out another apprentice for me and a permanent mentor for Cinderpaw," Yellowfang explained.
"I'll think it over and tell you and Tigerclaw of my decision. Lynxpaw, go and tell Cinderpaw that her temporary mentor is Darkstripe, and that Brightpaw's is Goldenflower," Bluestar ordered. Before they could be yelled at again, Sandstrike and Lynxpaw finally left the den.
Sandstrike gave Lionheart a briefing of Bluestar's orders and met Longtail at the gorse tunnel, telling him they were to patrol Shadowclan instead of Riverclan.
"Do you want a bite to eat first?" Longtail asked.
"We can catch something on patrol. I can show you a thing or two about a rabbit chase," Sandstrike said smugly, leading the way out of camp.
"Race you to Snakerocks and we'll see who's really faster!" Longtail grinned, bounding up the ravine with Sandstrike on his tail.